Siachen Day, observed every year on April 13, marks the anniversary of Operation Meghdoot, the historic military operation launched by India in 1984 to secure the Siachen Glacier.

This day honors the bravery, resilience, and sacrifice of the Indian Armed Forces who serve in one of the world’s most extreme terrains.

Key Points

• Launched on April 13, 1984, Operation Meghdoot was a preemptive strike by the Indian Army to occupy key passes and heights on the Siachen Glacier in Ladakh.
• The operation was aimed at thwarting Pakistan’s plans to claim the territory.
• It marked the first military operation of its kind in the world to be conducted at such extreme altitudes—over 20,000 feet above sea level.
• The Siachen Glacier, located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas, is often called the world's highest battlefield.